Built-in floor illuminating fixture having a hinged lamp support and a hinged reflector



Feb. 26, 1952 P. w. NETTESHEIM 2,587,371 BUILT-IN FLOOR ILLUMINATING FIXTURE HAVING A HINGED LAMP SUPPORT AND A HINGED REFLECTOR Filed Oct. 16, 1948 Patented F eb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUILT-IN FLOOR ILLUMINATING FIXTURE HAVING A HINGED LAMP SUPPORT AND A HINGED REFLECTOR Peter W. N ettesheim, Chicago, 111.

Application October 16, 1948,.Serial No. 54,898

"Claims. 1

.My invention relates to a floor light fixture and has particular reference to a fixture adapted for mounting in a vertical wall, preferably a short distance above the floor level, whereby rays of light are directed onto the floor area below, in front of,and also to each side of the fixture and whereby the floor area is sufficiently illuminated to enable one to walk thereon in safety and without the illumination of any considerable part of the room area above the floor.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a permanently installed floor light fixture for illuminating a floor area particularly in hospital rooms, as well as along corridors in hospitals, hotels, and many other places, including moving picture houses and other locations where it is desirableonly to illuminate the floor area without illuminating the room space above the floor.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a floor light fixture in which a casing mounted in a recess in a wall is provided, the casing having amovable plate therein upon which a lamp socket is mounted, whereby the plate and the lamp socket can be moved so as to bring the lamp out of the housing when the face plate is removed from the housing sothat easy, quick and convenient lamp changes can be made in the fixture.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a fioor light fixture having a casing with a movably mounted lamp socket plate, which preferably extends transversely of the-casing dividing the casing into two compartments, one of which contains the light bulb, while the othercompartment contains the necessary wiring for the light bulb socket preferably in sufilcient length so that if the wires to the socket become broken, access can be had to the wiring of the lamp socket for the purpose of repairing or replacing the wiring leading to the lamp socket should they need such attention.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a floor light fixture haying a casing permanently secured in the wall of a building, with a hinged lamp socketplate therein upon which a lamp socket is ,removably positioned so that if at any time any of the parts of the socket become inoperative, the cover plate can be removed, the hinged plate, socket andv lamp can be turned into a position practically outside of the said casing, the old socket removed and replaced with a new one without disturbing the casing orany part of the building.

Another and further object of invention is the provision of a floor lamp in which a casing normally open at one side is mounted in a wall with a face plate having louvers therethrough is provided, through which the rays of light pass and which are directed downward towards the floor with a reflector hinged to the said face plate which normally extends into the housing and back of the light bulb mounted in'the socket and normally rests upon the socket so that the reflector is spaced from the light bulb sufliciently to perform the functions of a reflector and at the same time out of contact With the bulb, so that the surface of the reflector is not marred by the heat from the bulb so as to destroy its reflecting surface.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a fixture having the hinged plate and light bulb socket angularly disposed therein with respect to a vertical plane of the fixture, whereas the reflector plate is placed in the said casing in a plane parallel to the vertical plane of the casing thereby enabling the lamp socket to support the reflector at one edge thereof and yet be spaced from the lamp bulb to provide a suitable reflector.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a floor light fixture which is easily and simply made and installed preferably at the time of the erection of the building and remains in a permanent position in the building adjacent the floor in hospital rooms andthe like and which becomes a permanent part of the building flush with the wall surface, so that it does not project outward into the room or is not in the way of mopping, sweeping, cleaning the roomror the like. 7

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of my improved floor lamp fixture;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view on line 2, 2 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3, 3, of Figure 1.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in which likereference characters refer to like parts throughout, a receptacle I0 is provided.

offset with respect to the end walls I4 and I5 and connected to these walls by means of webs I8. I8.

A pair of ears I9, [9 is provided on the rim portions I6 and I! at the ends of the receptacle I0, which have screws 20, 20 therein and which pass into portions of the building frame 2|, 2|. The top wall I2 has an ear 22 extending upwardly therefrom, while the bottom wall I3 has a similar ear 23 extending downwardly therefrom through which screws 20, 20 pass into the building frame 21, 2I, whereby the receptacle I0 is held in position in the building, with the usual coat of plaster 24, 24 being provided, the face of which is in register with the outer edge of the receptacle I0.

Ledges 25 and 26 are formed in the top wall I2 and bottom wall l3 upon which .a reflector plate 21 is mounted by means of screws 23, 28 which extend into internally threaded lugs molded into the top wall l2 and bottom wall I3 thereby holding the plate 21 normally in fixed position upon the ledges 25 and 25 and extending substantially longitudinal of the receptacle I9. A plate 29 is provided which is hinged to the one end of the plate 21 and extends diagonally across the receptacle In to the back wall II, thereby providing a chamber 29a in one end of the receptacle Ii). Knockout plugs 39 are provided in the top wall I2 and bottom wall I3 through which electric wires extend into the chamber 290.. A light bulb socket fixture comprising the usual non-conducting base portion 3I and the usual metallic socket portion of a light bulb socket fixture is provided with a ring portion 32 in external threaded engagement with the socket portion, the said socket portionbeing mounted in the base portion 3| and extending through an opening in the plate 29 with the ring portion 32 of the light bulb socket fixture turned up so that the wall 29 is engaged between the two portions 3| and 32 of the light bulb socket fixture, thus holding the socket portion of the light bulb socket fixture firmly in the plate 29, but insulated therefrom and in position to receive a lamp bulb 33 therein. The plate 29 is angularly positioned in the receptacle Ill so the light bulb 33 is angularly placed in the receptacle I9 for purposes hereinafter described and the surfaces of the plates 21 and 29 on the sides adjacent the lamp are preferably highly reflective. The compartment 29a forms a space for wires to be folded and permits extra length of wire to beplaced' in the receptacle so that when the plate 29 is turned in a clockwise direction the bulb 33 extends out of the receptacle and may be easily and quickly removed, the entire light bulb socket fixture can be changed or repaired or electric connection thereto inspected and repaired if desired or needed. The inner edge of the plate 29 engages over a spring 34 held in position against the rear wall I I by means of a screw 35, so that the edge of the plate 29 passing over the curved portion of the spring 34 is normally' held in fixed position, particularly as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. 1

' A cover plate 36 is provided which is secured in position over the open side of the receptacle I3 by screws 3l, 31 passing through openings in the edges of the ends of the cover plate 36 and which are threaded into internally threaded openings in the webs I8, I8 connecting the ends I4 and I5 with the rim portions I6 and I], the screws-passing internally of the said'rim portions Ifi and l'! and through the webs I8, I8, thereby securing the cover plate36in fixed position. The cover plate has a plurality of louvers 38, 38 therein through which the rays of light emitted from the bulb 33 pass and which are directed downward towards the floor in front of, and Outward from the lighting fixture, whereby a considerable 'fioor area both in front of the fixture and at each end thereof is illuminated sufliciently so that one walking therein can see their way and at the same time the balance of the area of the room will not be illuminated.

A reflector 39 is provided which is hinged to a pintle 40, secured to the inner surface of the cover 36 by means of screws 4|, 4| the said reflector being curved and can be fitted into the receptacle In over the lamp 33, and normally occupies a position behind the lamp 33 resting upon the forward edge of the ring portion 32 of the light bulb socket fixture with the body of the reflector 39 spaced from the light bulb 33 a sufilcient distance to obtain proper light reflection from the reflector 39, the surface of which adjacent the bulb 33 is highly polished for-reflective purposes and which as the cover plate is removed is also removed from the receptacle III for purposes of cleaning and the like, if desired, particularly when it is found necessary to renew the light bulbs in the fixture.

In operation the receptacle III is placed in position preferably during the construction of the building with suitable electric wiring usually through conduits connected with the necessary operating switches and the like and when placed in position the cover is attached to the receptacle I0 by means of the screws 31, 31. As many of the units may be placed in a room or corridor as may be deemed necessary by the architect, and upon the circuits to the lamp being closed rays of light will pass through the louvers in the cover plate 39 and be directed to .the floor providing sufiicient illumination to enable one to walk with safety but without permitting light to pass into the upper part of the room. When the light bulb needs changing, the cover 36 is removed and with it the reflector 39 which can be cleaned if necessary or desirable before being placed back in position. The spring 34 is depressed which releases the plate 29, which said plate 29, including the light bulb socket fixture and light bulb 33 mounted on said plate are rotated in a clockwise direction, (Figure 2) the old bulb removed and a new one inserted and the unit returned to its former position. Should it be necessary to replace the light bulb socket, its

7 parts can be separated, the wires detached and a new light bulb socket placed in position or such repairs made to the Wiring as may be necessary. The screws 28, 28 can be removed and both plates 21 and 29 removed, if necessary, although this work will seldom be necessary. Sufficient length of wiring is provided when the units are installed to allow the turning out of the plate 29, which length is normally coiled and stored in the compartment 29a in the receptacle I0.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. 1 v

What is claimed is: r

1. A floor illuminating light fixture comprising in combination a casing having top and bottom walls, a back wall and end walls and having inwardly projecting ledges on the said top and bottom walls extending partially the length 01 the said walls, the said ledges being formed adjacent the free edges of the said top and bottom walls. a plate on the said ledges removably secured to the said top and bottom walls, a second plate hinged to the said first mentioned plate having an opening therein, the said second plate extendin transversely of the casing, an electric light bulb fixture mounted on the said hinged plate and extending through the said opening therein, a light bulb in the said electric light bulb fixture and a removable louvered cover plate secured to the said casing.

2. A floor illuminating light fixture comprising in combination a casing having top and bottom walls, a back wall and end walls and having inwardly projecting ledges on the said top and bottom walls extending partially the length of the said walls, the said ledges being formed adjacent the free edges of the said top and bottom walls, a plate on the said ledges removably secured to the said top and bottom walls, a second plate hinged to the said first mentioned plate having an opening therein, the said second plate extending transversely of the casing separating the compartment formed by the easing into a light bulb receiving chamber and an electric wire transmission receiving chamber, a fastening member for the free edge of the said hinged plate, an electric light bulb fixture mounted on the said hinged plate and extending through the said opening therein, a light bulb in the said electric light bulb fixture and a removable louvered cover plate secured to the said casing.

3. A floor illuminating light fixture comprising in combination a casing having top and bottom walls, a back wall and end walls and having inwardly projecting ledges on the said top and bottom walls extendin partially the length of the said walls, the said ledges being formed adjacent the free edges of the said top and bottom walls, a plate on the said ledges removably secured to the said top and bottom walls, a second plate hinged to the said first mentioned plate having an opening therein, the said second plate extending transversely of the casing, an electric light bulb fixture mounted on the said hinged plate and extending through the said opening therein, a light bulb in the said electric light bulb fixture, a removable louvered cover plate secured to the said casing, and a curved reflector hingedly secured to the said louvered cover plate and removable from the casing with the said plate.

4. A floor illuminating light fixture comprising in combination a casing having top and bottom walls, a back wall and end walls and having inwardly projecting ledges on the said top and bottom walls extending partially the length of the said walls, the said ledges being formed adjacent the free edges of the said top and bottom walls, a plate on the said ledges removably secured to the said top and bottom walls, a second plate hinged to the said first mentioned plate having anopening therein, the said second plate extending transversely of the casing, an electric light bulb fixture mounted on the said hinged plate and extending through the said opening therein, a light bulb in the said electric light bulb fixture, a removable louvered cover plate secured to the said casing, and a, curved reflector hingedly secured to the said louvered cover plate and normally supported by the said electric light bulb fixture when in operative position and removable from the said casing with the louvered cover plate.

5. A floor illuminating light fixture comprising in combination a casing having top and bottom walls. a back wall and end walls and having inwardly projecting ledges on the said top and bottom walls extending partially the length of the said walls, the said ledges being formed adjacent the free edges of the said top and bottom Walls, a plate on the said ledges removably secured to the said top and bottom walls, a second plate hinged to the said first mentioned plate having an opening therein, the said second plate extending transversely of the casing, an electric light bulb fixture mounted on the said hinged plate and extending through the said opening therein, a light bulb in the said electric light bulb fixture, a removable louvered cover plate secured to the said casing, and a curved reflector plate hingedly secured to the said louvered cover plate and normally supported upon one end of the said electric light bulb fixture in spaced relation with the light bulb when in operative position in the said casing and removable from the said casing with the louvered cover plate.

PETER W. NET'IESHEIM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,509,211 Kausal Sept. 23, 1924 1,516,158 Seaman Nov. 18, 1924 1,575,690 Kausal Mar. 9, 1926 1,603,444 Bissell Oct. 19, 1926 2,251,050 Hagerty et a1 July 29, 1941 2,267,796 Lezebnick Dec. 30, 1941 

